Rashes
Please help us keep our children healthy in school!
SKIN RASHES
Many illnesses can cause skin rashes. Measles, chicken pox, high fevers, strept bacteria, fungal infections (ringworm), viruses, staph infections, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and shingles are a few illnesses that can cause rashes.
Allergic reactions such as exposure to poison ivy, bug bites, some soaps or detergents, chemicals in elastic or latex products or even extreme temperature changes can cause a rash. It is not uncommon to see rashes caused by skin mites in school children.
Many rashes will disappear after a couple of days, but you should examine your child’s skin daily. It’s very easy to misdiagnose rashes as they can be caused by so many things, even food allergies, so if your child still has the rash after a couple of days it’s a good idea to visit the doctor. If the rash is causing your child to scratch excessively there is always the added danger of infection.
It is important to examine your child’s skin daily to detect any signs that he/she may be developing a rash. If you do notice a rash on your child, it is important to take immediate action to prevent further development. Keep your child’s skin clean. During the cold weather when the humidity is low, it is important to keep your skin moisturized. Applying lotion daily will prevent the skin from drying out and cracking.
Many rashes will disappear after a couple of days, but you should examine your child’s skin daily. It’s very easy to misdiagnose rashes as they can be caused by so many things, even food allergies, so if your child still has the rash after a couple of days it’s a good idea to visit the doctor. If the rash is causing your child to scratch excessively there is always the added danger of infection.
WASH HANDS FREQUENTLY AND THOROUGHLY. Always keep hands clean. Hands are the first source to spread skin infections. When skin itches, we naturally scratch; which not only irritates the skin further, but also may introduce bacteria into an already sensitive area or spreads bacteria from one part of the body to another part.
•Wet your hands with running water.
•Apply soap.
•Lather well.
•Rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds (Happy Birthday song twice). Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
•Rinse well.
•Dry your hands.